[MRCA] BC-611 PS

Sat Dec 21 22:45:56 EST 2019

Hi Gene,

I am cartainly not a BC-611 expert but I do own two of them and have a
couple of comments/suggestions.

My first one came in a trade about 25 years ago and I am guessing it was a
Hanger Queen but there were two major problems.  That plastic sheet that
you described as broken was basically gone in my '611.  It seems to me that
a major purpose for it is to protect the T/R switch, and mine had been
damaged, apparently by being rubbed by the PTT switch mechanism when the
chassis was being removed/inserted.  In those days my vision was still good
and after several hours of work with an Optivisor and very small tools I
was able to fix it.  I left the chassis out of the case for many years
until  after I bought my second '611 and had found out that Robert Downs
had/has '611 parts for sale.  I bought two pf the plastic sheets, and the
crystals and coils needed to put both units on 3885.

But then I realized I cou ld not tune the units without the special case
with the strategic holes - stymied again.

I left both chassis out for a long while and then discovered that they
would not go back in; seems lioke the cases don't hold their shape when
empty??

So, everything, including one of Pietro's inverters and a couple of custom
made battery trays for 9V batteries is boxed up out in the garage and I
have been concentrating on the PRC-6, PRC-=6/6, SEM-52S&A units.  Which I
have had pretty good success with.  Well, at least I have a couple of them
working.

See if Robert still hjas the newly made plastic sheets available to avoid
switch damage, which can be Very hard to see without lots of
magnification.  And is a bear to repair.

73,

Clare  N2RJB

On Fri, Dec 20, 2019 at 10:24 PM Gene Smar via MRCA <mrca at mailman.qth.net>
wrote:

> Gents:
>
>      Today my BC-611F (?) arrived safe and sound and works (kind of).  To
> provide an Executive Summary, the PTT seems to be sticking and the receive
> crystal may not be right for the 3885 kcs transmit crystal.  Details and a
> few follow-up questions for you follow below.
>
>      After unpacking the -611 I noted that the PTT switch was permanently
> depressed (not sad, just stuck) in "transmit."  I unscrewed the captive
> bolt
> at the top of the case and attempted to remove the chassis but was not able
> to.  I inspected the entire radio, then discovered that I had to disconnect
> the red and black power leads from the bottom of the chassis.  (It's been a
> while since the last time I worked on the guts of one of these machines.)
> The chassis then slipped out easily.  When I got the chassis out pieces of
> the plastic insulating strip that lays across the PTT contacts fell out
> from
> the case.  I presumed I had found the reason that the PTT was stuck in
> permanent transmit.  My first needed repair was noted.
>
>      With the entire chassis in my hand, I manipulated the PTT button on
> the
> switch strip and the contacts made and broke as expected but they look
> tarnished.  More on this switch later.  I reinserted the chassis into the
> case and fastened the captive screw at the top.
>
>       I spent about 15 minutes trying to figure out how to install the 4
> D-cell batteries and the Italian PS.  I gave up and clicked on the PS link
> in my original email below for photos and then did a palm-to-forehead slap.
> I inserted the three cells into the HV section of the case, then the PS,
> then the final D cell for the filaments.  I closed the bottom door.
>
>      Once I got the access door closed I pulled out the antenna to turn on
> the radio.  The antenna separated into two parts.  I looked at the errant
> half of the telescoping antenna in my hand and saw that I merely had to
> spread the two thin brass leaves on the collar at the bottom of that
> antenna
> section and reinsert it into the rest of the antenna assembly.  The
> now-spread leaves keep their antenna section from separating from the rest
> of the antenna.  On to power-up.
>
>      I pulled the antenna out just enough to activate the radio.  At first
> I
> heard nothing.  I whacked the radio with my palm a few times and then heard
> a very faint hiss in the earpiece.  I listened and heard faintly on the
> -611
> in my hand in my shack in Rockville, MD KB3RHR calling CQ from Pittsburgh,
> PA.  This, with the -611's antenna only about 4 inches out of the case!
>
>      I turned on my home station's radio and tuned to 3885 AM, listening
> for
> RHR's sigs.  Nada.  I tuned around and heard him at 3778.  I extended the
> -611's antenna all the way out.  I pushed in the -611's PTT and did a
> "hello, radio" call.  My -611 sigs were very distorted.  I tuned around and
> found the -611 at 3885, still somewhat distorted but readable.  When I had
> had the chassis out of the case I noted that one of the crystals
> (presumably
> the transmit one) read "3885 kcs."  So I presume the transmit rock is fine
> but I need to verify the freq of the receive one.  My cyphering tells me it
> should be 3885 + 455 = 4340 kcs.
>
>      The -611 PTT stayed stuck in transmit again!  However, I was able to
> pull on the PTT switch levers (I had removed the rubber PTT switch covering
> earlier) and get the radio back into receive.  Another problem to fix.
>
>      So my initial impression of the radio is it's functional but maybe in
> need of a tune-up.  I also have to verify the receive crystal freq.
>
>      Questions:
>
> 1.   Do you think by spraying contact cleaner on the PTT contacts the
> switch
> will be able to return to receive on its own?
>
> 2.   If 1. doesn't work, have you any ideas of how I might be able to get
> the PTT switch to return to receive like normal?
>
> 3.   Might the distorted transmit signal from the -611 be due to
> overloading
> of my home receiver?  (My RX antenna is a sloper off the tower in the back
> yard.)
>
> 4.   Is this really a BC-611-F?  The bottom door to the case does not have
> the sockets to plug in a headset as my first "-F" did.  The door is a thin
> one as can be seen in the attached photo.
>
> 5.   How can I tell if this is a REAL Galvin model?  It sports a Galvin ID
> plate (see photo) but the plate does not lie flat against the case and is
> fastened in place by screws, not rivets.  I can buy a "Galvin" plate off
> ePay, too.
>
>      I'm looking forward to bringing this radio to Gilbert next fall and
> possibly Dayton, trying it out at both venues.  Thanks for any advice or
> enlightenment you can send my way.
>
>      And Happy Hanukah, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Happy Kwanza to
> all as appropriate.
>
>
> 73 de
> Gene Smar  AD3F
> P.S.  When removing the batts and PS, I was mindful of everyone's warnings
> about stored charge from within the PS.  Thanks.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
> On
> Behalf Of Gene Smar via MRCA
> Sent: Sunday, December 15, 2019 11:09 PM
> To: 'Military Radio Collectors Association' <mrca at mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: [MRCA] BC-611 PS
>
> Gents:
>
>      I am awaiting delivery of a BC-611F that I just purchased on e-Pay.
> The purchase includes what I found out is a 4 D-cell power supply for both
> A
> and B batts.  Here's a link to a photo:   https://tinyurl.com/rre5zk7 .
> Has
> anyone of you used this?  Or are you at least familiar with its operation?
> I may be able to put the new (to me) -611 on-air within minutes of its
> arrival next week.  I stupidly sold my first -611  (
> http://www.mrca.ar88.net/photo_gallery/2003_meet_pix/Meet_pix_03.html and
> scroll down)   a few years ago at Gilbert and have regretted that decision
> ever since.
>
>      Thanks for any G2 youse can provide.  And Happy Holidays to all.
>
> 73 de
> Gene Smar  AD3F
>
>
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